Jessie: Ok, I cannot be having this conversation right now. Much less from my website.

THIH: … Ok, I still lurve you …

… Before you start berating me for making my computer cry (?), I just want to point out that despite what engineers in Germany say, motherboards do not have feelings.

A few days ago, I was reading a great post written by LeQuan in which she talks about blogging and how it’s MUCH more fun when she views blogging as a hobby, rather than as a job. I admit, I have fallen into “the abyss” myself: feeling the pressure to get a post up just because it was a certain day or it had been a few days since my last post. I think it took preparing for my trip to China and Hong Kong to realize that I feel the same way as LeQuan. As I was preparing posts to go up while I was gone, while packing and working at the same time, I thought to myself: This is ridiculous. And most unfun. From then on, I resolved to only post when I really wanted to, rather than force myself to stick to an arbitrary schedule. I’m a free spirit, anyway 😀 So far, my new mentality toward blogging is great! I love being part of a healthy community, and sharing a little about what I know. Let’s keep this fun, shall we? 🙂

Anyhoo, moving on to a more edible topic … I remember when I was a student at Amherst College (and had moved past my non-eating homesickness phase), I relished the dining hall’s thick, gloppy garlic red pepper sauce that had more than its fair share of oil – my Amherst pals will know exactly what I’m talking about 😉 I wish I had a picture of the oil pools that formed when I let the sauce sit around too long before eating it. Needless to say, I have moved on from such cafeteria fare … but my tastebuds haven’t changed. So, when I saw this colorful bunch of bell peppers at the local farmstand last weekend, I knew exactly what I was going to do with them – not let them get lonely, that’s for sure!

Slice the bell pepper in half and pull out the seeds and white stuff. Spray the pepper halves with a little oil and roast at 325 degrees F for 20 minutes, or until tops are blackened and skin pulls off easily. Let the peppers cool before pulling off skins. Feel free to use the plastic bag method to help remove the skins.

In the meantime, prepare the rest of the ingredients. For example, you COULD use two cloves of regular garlic … or you could use one ENORMOUS clove of elephant garlic!

Saute the minced garlic in the canola oil over medium-low heat until softened. Place garlic in a blender with the roasted pepper, steamed carrot, paprika, and salt. Blend until smooth and yummy. Drizzle in olive oil and blend again. If you want, you can add the cream or half-and-half for a little extra body.

Served with whole grain pasta and chicken from a roast chicken that Peter just decided to “whip up” this afternoon.

Beautiful sage leaves:

I think next time I wold leave the garlic raw to give the sauce even more flavor, but overall, the NOT Red Pepper Sauce is a tastier (and healthier!) version of my oily favorite.

I’m so glad you are blogging whenever you want, on your own schedule whenever you have an inspiration to. Blogging and commenting are very “ordinary” I guess you could say, but it’s HOW you blog and HOW you comment that separates you from all the others. I’m glad that we see eye to eye on this subject (even though I’m only 5 feet…teehee). Blogging can be fun if we allow it to be. Here’s to FUN blogging! 😀

See, I told you I always learn something from your blog. I’ve never roasted peppers before, so the plastic bag method is new to me. Thank you for sharing that. I’ve been getting sick of my usual classico pasta sauce and have actually been trying to look for a new pasta sauce to try. Your recipe comes at the perfect time. I would love to try this lovely recipe sometime. It sounds delicious, especially with roasted chicken :-P. Great dish guys! I always love the way you and Peter collaborate to come up with dinner.

I usually use my peppers in stir fries. I know, not very creative, but at least I eat them now (used to hate them when I was growing up). And I’ve definitely had conversations with my computer before, but I don’t know if you’d call them conversations, more like yelling and screaming. That’s when the word “format” comes to mind.

I love this! Sometimes my blog talks to me too, and tries to make me feel guilty for neglecting it. I’ve had a similar struggle with blogging that you talked about. I think it’s kind of tough to find your rhythm at first, and the pressure to post and comment on a regular schedule can make it seem more like a job and less like a fun hobby. But I think things like moving and not having internet and now my computer dying and not being able to blog at all have helped me step back and realize that this is just something I’m doing for fun. I’m not making a living off the thing, so if I take all the fun out of it, what’s the point?! Thank you for the nice reminder this morning. 🙂

And your Not Roasted Red Pepper Sauce looks really REALLY good. (how could it not be when it’s made from such beautiful peppers!!). This is going into my must-make list!

Everybody is talking about this?! haha I guess we all have been held up the feeling and it’s time to let it out? I think we have to look what makes us happy and why we started blogging from the first place. We have different opinion. I’m more relaxed now and enjoy blogging as I don’t put too much pressure on myself.

The pasta looks so good! I like the creamy sauce and it’s not roasted red pepper? 🙂 Those fresh colorful peppers are beautiful. I like them colorful! Hmm..I think I like eating them plain or roasted.

Everybody is talking about this?! haha I guess we all have been held up the feeling and it’s time to let it out? I think we have to look what makes us happy and why we started blogging from the first place. We have different opinion. I’m more relaxed now and enjoy blogging as I don’t put too much pressure on myself.

The pasta looks so good! I like the creamy sauce and it’s not roasted red pepper? 🙂 Those fresh colorful peppers are beautiful. I like them colorful! Hmm..I think I like eating them plain or roasted.

It is a much better idea to treat your blog as a hobby than a job…especially since it doesn’t pay! Well mine doesn’t at least. And if it did I would certainly justify spending all day posting and commenting, as I love it!!

PSSSSSSSSST, Jessie! Isn’t that little LeQuan a gal that gets you thinking? Even Lazero posted a reflection after her post. I am almost nauseous at times I have so many posts backed up and so many post from blogs I love reading unread and waiting…. that sometimes life gets put on hold… and then I think: WHAT AM I DOING? and I delete all my mail and place my backed up posts in dormant to do the same season the following year. But, that is not often. Usually I believe what I am doing or writing about is so important I just force myself to do it …like a sick obsession?.. no, like a wonderfully gratifying hobby, really. I do love it. And I love it when there are discussions and questions and conversations that happen with in the comments section like what is happening right here, right now.
🙂
Valerie

I can certainly relate with the busy factor. School is crazy for me right now, and it sounds like it is for you, too. You must be close to finishing though, which is fantastic!! 🙂

At this stage, I’d rather see posts from bloggers when there’s really something to write about, as you’ve expressed, not just because they feel obligated – first because that means bloggers are staying true to themselves, and second because it means I don’t have to read posts that are just “filler”, which is something I think a lot of blogs are doing these days (and I’ve been guilty of it myself). So, the moral of the story is, “sounds good!”

Hope you are well Jessie! And by the way, you look absolutely beautiful in the picture in the sidebar. 😀

First of all, I wanted to thank you for your birthday wishes! You are so sweet Jessie, and that really meant a lot to me. Secondly, I love how your computer talks, lol…and flutters pixels is too cute (but I agree, not nearly as cute as Madeline). The pasta looks amazing! Very creamy but with only 1 TB of cream, very healthy too!

Jessie, Your blog is lovely. Your comment on my blog was so sweet this morning. It brought a smile to my face! And that is what I love about your blog. Each time I visit, I walk away smiling. You are both an entertaining and thoughtful writer. Thank you for sharing! This pasta sauce looks stupendous. I love roasting red bell peppers and serving them on sandwiches!

I’m afraid I talk to my computer all the time….most of it isn’t nice..lol
my favorite way to use red peppers is just to roast them and eat them with good bread and sharp provolone…..I also enjoy a good roasted pepper sauce!
so your sauce is something I would love!
thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!

Yep, I used to be that blogger who felt obligated to get a post up a certain number of days. It was starting to cause some serious stress so Nick put a stop to it (yes, Nick). He is good at talking some sense into me. Now my relationship with my computer, and my blog, is oh so much better.

This is a great looking recipe. I am not very creative with peppers usually, as I like them raw with a bit of pepper, or cut up on salads.

You crack me up! I definitely know what you mean. Sometimes I get stressed about blogging but I have to remind myself it is for fun!
That sauce sounds amazing. There is a red pepper hummus at the store that I get every so often. I just love it!! And stuffed peppers..can’t go wrong with that.

Ah, the pressure to blog…I have convos with my computer from time to time, esp when I’m tired or just want to frekaing watch a movie. But…once I start blogging, I just. can’t. stop. I love it too much. And I hope you love it too enough so that you continue blogging, because I think I would be devastated if you ignored the blog’s calling completely!
Btw, did you get a new profile pic? God, you’re a HOT BABE!!!

This is such a great and natural sauce…love it 🙂
I understand about the blog pressure…I want to see what you love, far more than see what you think you should do…
P.S. my computer never talks to me, unless you count freezing up,lol
Stay safe and sane 🙂

Maybe not conversations, but more like screaming matches. Wow, could you imagine if the computer yelled back. Actually, I could use a good slap in the face every now and then, so I would love to see my computer take on that role.

As for peppers, I just got into them. Not sure why I never liked them before. Ok, I ate them cooked, but not raw, and now I actually enjoy them.

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